The Carroll County Sheriff's Office says a 20-year-old Eldersburg man was arrested and charged with second-degree assault early Sunday after another man was punched in the face at a party and wound up in critical condition.

At about 1:25 a.m., sheriff's deputies responded to Carroll Hospital Center in Westminster and reported that the victim sustained a head injury as a result of a fight while attending a party on Blue Heron Drive, also in Westminster.

Investigators said the victim was at the party when another man punched him in the face. The victim fell to the ground, striking his head on the pavement. He was transported by to the hospital and, after being stabilized, was moved to Maryland Shock Trauma, where he was reported Sunday to be in critical but stable condition.

The Sheriff's Office and state police conducted interviews and arrested Michael Schwartz Jr., 20, of Eldersburg and charged him with second-degree assault.

Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident may call 410-386-5900.

A 31-year-old man who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in Baltimore after he pleaded guilty to possessing 5.9 grams of marijuana won an appeal Wednesday invalidating the plea — raising the possibility that he will be released.